Lillian Welch
April 2, 1916-March 8, 2009

Lillian Ellen Welch, 92, of Niles, formerly of Christmas, Florida, passed away peacefully at West Woods of Niles on Sunday, March 8, 2009 following a brief illness.
 
She was born on April 2, 1916 in Berrien Springs, Michigan to the late William Henry and Bertha (Gorham) Fulkerth.
 
In 1935 Lillian married the late Jesse Welch at a ceremony in Niles.
 
A homemaker most of her life, Lillian enjoyed gardening and had a love for animals.
 
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, six sisters, two brothers and a son Jesse Welch Jr.
 
Lillian is survived by tow sons Nathan (Patricia) Welch of Niles and Omer Welch of Niles, a daughter Tillie Drummond of Niles, eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and a brother Lynes Fulkerth of Niles.
 
In keeping with Lillian’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private graveside committal will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.
 
Memorial contributions can be made in Lillian’s memory to Humane Society 2506 Grape Road, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545.
 
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
 
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Howard "Duffy" Huttenstine, Jr.
Sept. 6, 1951-Sept. 25, 1995

Howard ‘Duffy” Huttenstine Jr. 44, of 1405 N. Phillip Road, Niles, died at 11:45 a.m. Monday (Sept. 25, 1995) in his home of natural causes.

Mr. Huttenstine was employed in quality control at Delta Machine. He was born Sept. 6, 1951, in Niles. On April 1, 1988 in Buchanan, he married Patricia Redzinski. She survives with a daughter, Kristin Ann Holt of Niles; a son, Jared of Niles; a stepson, Harley Groves of Niles; two grandchildren; his father and stepmother, Howard D. Sr. and Martha Huttenstine of Boardman, Ohio; a sister, Marilyn Fox of Niles; two stepsisters, Jill Palmer of Niles and Laura Butler of Kingsville, Ohio; and two stepbrothers, Ron Rolfs of Vicksburg, Mich, and Steve Rohlfs of Niles.

Mr. Huttenstine was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Buchanan Moose.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Helen Hurley
Oct. 19, 1906-April 23, 2003

Helen Beatrice Hurley, 96, of 14967 95th Place North, Maple Grove, Minn., died at 2:45 p.m. April 23, 2003, in her home of natural causes.

She was born on Oct. 19, 1906, in Niles, Mich., to the late Joseph and Emma (Huston) Smith. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leon Douglas Hurley in 1992; a daughter, Mary Jo Scheibelhut in 1988; and two sisters, Margaret Roth and Ernamay Harrell.

She retired from Bendix Corporation in 1972. And was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles and the Progressive Club of South Bend.

She is survived by two sisters, Annette Herman of Edwardsburg, Mich., and Mary Case of Boyne City, Mich.; three grandchildren, Jill Scheibelhut of Maple Grove, Minn., Mark Scheibelhut of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Joy Essig of Lamar, Colo.; and five great-grandchildren, David Scheibelhut and Debra Scheibelhut, both of Maple Grove and Jan, Collin and Ali Scheibelhut, all of Lakewood, Colo.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. (Michigan time) Monday, April 28, in Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, with Dr. Rev. Ronald Wakeman officiating. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. (Michigan time) until time of services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart Association or American Cancer Society.

Melvin E. Hurlbutt
Jan. 18, 1923-Aug. 3, 2004

Melvin E. Hurlbutt, 81, of LaSalle Avenue, Niles, Mich., died after a brief illness at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3,  2004, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born Jan. 18, 1923, in Buchanan, Mich., to Ray B. and Freda M. (Schrumpf) Hurlbutt. He was a lifetime area resident. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served five years aboard the U.S.S. Charleston, a patrol gun boat. Some of his service on the Charleston was with his brother Ray. Mel rose to the rank of gunner's mate first class by the end of the war.

In 1997 Mr. Hurlbutt was awarded a commemorative medal for "The 50th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War." This recognition was for the allied support of Russia during her fight for freedom against Nazi Germany. His citation was signed by then Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Mr. Hurlbutt was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles. In addition to his World War II U.S. Navy service, he was a member of American Legion Post #26, Niles. Mel was a member of A.A.R.P. In addition to his love for family and friends, he enjoyed being a jack-of-all-trades and trying to master each one. In 1975 he retired from the Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan.

On May 1, 1945, in Niles, he married Eunice M. (Tuesley) Hurlbutt, who survives. Mel is also survived by two sons, Jerry (Linda) and Bruce (Isabella), both of Niles; three grandchildren; and by a brother, Ray Hurlbutt Jr. of Niles.

He was preceded in death by another brother, Burton.

Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, in the Wesley United Methodist Church, with Rev. Emmett Kadwell Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with full military honors. The family will receive friends in the Halbritter Funeral Home on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Hurlbutt may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar St., Niles, MI 49120.

Aina Hunt
1954-Aug. 24, 2001

Aina Hunt, 47, of 2432 Westfield Drive, Niles, Mich., died at 9:25 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2001, in her home of natural causes.

She was a homemaker. Besides keeping a loving home, she loved to cook and garden.

On Oct. 15, 1994, in Adamsville, Mich., she married Garry M. Hunt who survives, also surviving are a daughter, Jessica (Shawn) Low of Niles; three sisters, Erica Purviance of North Carolina, Ilga Tharp of Vandalia, Mich., Ilona Mayor of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, Karuis Pupols of Union, Mich., and Uris Pupols of Niles; and two granddaughters, Samantha and Danielle Low of Niles.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, in Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, with Mr. Steve Steele officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be give to Hospice.

William "Max" Hunsberger
May 3, 1925-Feb. 23, 2005

William "Max" Hunsberger, 79, of Barron Lake Road, Niles, Michigan, died following a brief illness at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana.

Mr. Hunsberger was born May 3, 1925, in New Buffalo, Michigan, to Charles and Ruth E. (Noel) Hunsberger. He had lived in Niles for 50 years, coming from New Buffalo, Michigan. Max retired in 1982 after 32 years of service from Texaco, Inc., in Niles.

Max was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy. He loved spending time with his family. Max also loved being outdoors, gardening, woodcutting and deer hunting.

On Feb. 12, 1949, in Bangor, Michigan, he married Phyllis J. (Charles) Hunsberger, who survives. Also surviving are their children: two sons, William Hunsberger and Frank Hunsberger, both of Niles; and a daughter, Nancy Roberts of Niles; a niece, Wandalee Schut of Hudsonville, Michigan; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A brother, Donald Hunsberger, and three sisters, Betty Hunsberger, Marjorie Shermak and Vivian Fox, preceded Mr. Hunsberger in death.

The family of William "Max" Hunsberger will gather privately at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorials may be made to the Old Rugged Cross Foundation (make checks payable to Pokagon United Methodist Church or Old Rugged Cross Association), P.O. Box 484, Niles, MI 49120.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown